Rex's dash works as planned

December 16, 2006|BY JOHN MULLIN.

The best part of Rex Grossman's 22-yard run against the St. Louis may have been that he ran rather than why he ran. The play was technically a scramble, but it was one Grossman anticipated based on the St. Louis defense and it went exactly where he and coordinator Ron Turner wanted him to go.

"Two safeties and everybody else manned up and were running with their guys," Grossman said. "[So] there are not too many people for the quarterback. In that situation we didn't have a good play called, but there was a good chance if I got past the defensive line there would be no one there. I thought about doing that."

Turner liked the improvisation. "We weren't expecting [that defense]," he said. "But he very quickly recognized it, pulled [the ball] down, found a hole and took off. It was a huge play for us. It's something we talked about during the week."

Star power

Results will not be announced until next Tuesday, but as of Thursday, 18 Bears were among the top four vote-getters at their positions in fan balloting for the Pro Bowl. . . . The Bears can clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with one of two scenarios: a victory and a New Orleans loss or tie, or a tie and a Saints loss. The last Bears tie was in 1972.

GM 54

Linebacker Brian Urlacher and the defense have had to spend more time on the field this season because of Devin Hester's touchdown returns. Against St. Louis the defense was off the field for 22 actual seconds when Hester ran back his first kickoff for a touchdown. But anytime he wants to take one to the "house," it's fine with Urlacher.

"With seven points on the board. I'll take it," Urlacher said. "We're in good shape; we don't mind going back out there right away. Every time he gets his hands on the ball, we get ready. There's always a chance."

What Urlacher also will take is the Bears' 2006 draft, which is fast becoming one of the biggest impact groups since the 1999 class that included Jerry Azumah, Marty Booker, Roosevelt Colvin, Warrick Holdman and Rex Tucker. But even that group did not have the first-year production that '06 is having.

"Everybody was questioning our draft picks," Urlacher said. "Look what they've done for us this year. Mark [Anderson] has 10 sacks, Danieal [Manning] has started pretty much every game and Hester's doing what he's doing. Pretty good draft."